Metering apparatus

ABSTRACT

A metering apparatus including a hopper formed with a centrally disposed outlet in its lower wall. A cylindrical metering drum is disposed in closing confrontation with the outlet and is formed with a plurality of longitudinal metering cavities for receiving a measured quantity of material from the hopper. Drive means rotates the metering drum to sequentially register the metering cavities with the outlet to receive measured quantities of material from the hopper and then dump such material as the respective cavities are rotated out of registration with the outlet.

United States Patent 1 1 Vidjak Nov. 27, 1973 [54] METERING APPARATUSFOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS Inventor! Frank Vidjak, Long Beach,Calif- 718,646 11 1931 France 222 220 [73] Assignee: Star-Kist FoodsInc., Terminal 7 Island Calif. Primary Examiner-Stanley H. TollbergAssistant ExaminerThomas E. Kocovsky [22] Flled: 1971 Att0rneyFulwideret al. [21] Appl. No.: 192,337

, [57] ABSTRACT [52] U S Cl 222/220 ZZZ/238 222/346 A metering apparatusincluding a hopper formed with 222/367 a centrally disposed outlet inits lower wall. A cylindri- [51] Int Cl G0 11/10 cal metering drum isdisposed in closing confrontation [58] Field 052155;IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII555550, 238, 342, with the outlet and isformed with P of long 222/345 349 367 368 236 tudinal metering cavitiesfor recelving a measured quantity of material from the hopper. Drivemeans ro- [56] References Cited tates the metering drum to sequentiallyregister the metering cavities. with the outlet to receive measured UNITED STATES PATENTS quantities of material from the hopper and then dumpBurke uch material as the respective cavities are rotated out 2 i gy ofregistrationwith the outlet. 3,159,309 12/1964 Kempton 222/238 4 Claims,5 Drawing Figures METERING APPARATUS This is a continuation ofapplication Ser. No. 861,681, filed Sept. 29, 1969 now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The presentinvention relates to an apparatus for continuous dispensation ofmaterial at a predetermined rate.

2. Description of the Prior Art Metering devices have been proposedwhich-include a hopper having a baffle therein which is agitated by arotary spoked wheel to effect dispensation of granular material. Adevice of this type is shown in US. Pat. No. 3,266,677. Devices of thistype suffer the shortcoming of failing to provide for highly accuraterates of dispensation and are totally ineffective for metering of moistcohesive material.

There are no metering apparatuses known to applicant which include ahopper having its bottom wall formed with an outlet which has acylindrical metering element supported rotatably in pluggingconfrontation therewith, such metering element being formed with aplurality of peripherally arranged outwardly-opening metering cavitieswhich are selectively rotated into registration with the outlet so as tobe filled with the material from the hopper. The material is then dumpedfrom the cavities as the element is rotated out of registration with theoutlet.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The metering apparatus of present invention ischaracterized by a cylindrical metering element rotatably supported inconfrontation with an outlet formed in the bottom of a hopper, suchmetering element being formed with a plurality of peripherally arrangedoutwardly opening metering cavities which sequentially register with theoutlet as the element is rotated to till the respective cavities withmeasured quantities of the material from the hopper whereby the materialwill be dumped from the cavities as they are rotated out of registrationwith the outlet to thereby dispense the material at a rate correspondingto the rotational speed of the element.

An object of the present invention is to provide a metering apparatuswhich dispenses material at a predetermined rate and which is adapted todispense the material at a uniform thickness across a selected path.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a meteringapparatus of the type described which includes rotating agitators foragitating the material in the hopper to avoid compaction thereof andenable dispensation at a constant rate.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a meteringapparatus of the type described which includes an idler for cleaningeach of the metering cavities during every rotation of the meteringelement.

These and other objects and the advantages of the present invention willbecome apparent from a consideration of the following detaileddescription, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a meteringapparatus embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view, in enlarged scale and partially brokenaway, of the metering apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a rear elevational view, in enlarged scale, of the meteringapparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4' is a vertical sectional view, in enlarged scale, taken along theline 4--4 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of FIG. 4.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The metering apparatus M ofpresent invention includes, generally, a hopper 11 having its bottomwall formed with an elongated transverse opening 13 (FIG. 5) which has arotatable hollow metering drum 17 supported in blocking confrontationtherewith. The metering drum 17 is formed with a plurality oflongitudinal metering cavities l9, and stationary semi-cylindrical plateportion 21 is telescoped within the drum 17 and is clocked to alsoconfront the opening 13 and block direct passage through the cavities 19of material being dispensed from the hopper 11. Thus, the drum 17 may berotated a selected speed and as the cavities l9 register with the outlet13, measured quantities of the material 20in the hopper 11 will bereceived in each cavity, and will be moved across the upper surface ofthe backup plate 21 and be dumped from the drum 17 as the respectivecavities 19 are rotated out of registration with the outlet 13.

The hopper l l is generally box-shaped and is formed withsemi-cylindrical bottom portions 25 and 27 .disposed on opposite sidesof the drum l7 and having respective downwardly projecting divergentskirts 29 and 31 which extend around the drum 17 for short distances inopposite directions.

Referring to FIG. 4, the drum 17 includes an end plate 35 which isfixedly supported on a shaft 37 having its opposite ends journaled inpillow blocks 39 and 41 supported from the hopper 11. The end plate 17is stepped at 43 for telescopically receiving one end of a cylindricalshell 45 in which the longitudinal slots, or metering cavities 19, areformed.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, the semi-cylindrical stationary back-upplate 21 is telescoped into the open end of the shell 45 and includes aradially outwardly extending flange 49 which is secured to the hopper 51whereby such plate will serve to support the open end of the drum l7.

Still referring to FIG. 5, a cleaning idler, generally designated 53, isrotatably supported on a shaft 54 adjacent the drum l7 and includes apair of spaced sprockets 55 which, have radially outwardly projectingspokes that mount cleaning bars 57 on their ends. The cleaning bars 57are shaped to complimentally interfit the metering cavities 19 wherebyeach metering cavity will be cleaned on each revolution of the meteringdrum 17. Supported below and adjacent the cleaning idler 53 is a scraperslat 61 which serves to scrape the cleaning bars 57.

Referring to FIG. 2, a pair of agitators, generally designated 63 and65, are disposed in opposite halves of the hopper 11 and include aplurality of collars 67 nonrotatably secured to rotatable shafts 69 andmounting radially outwardly projecting paddles 71. Opposite ends of theshafts 69 project through the sidewalls of the hopper 11 and are carriedin bearing housings 75.

Referring to FIG. 3, each of the agitator shafts 69 mount drivensprockets 77 on their projecting ends, such sprockets having a drivechain 81 threaded thereon and said chain also being threaded over adrive sprocket 83 carried on the mounting shaft 37 of the metering drum17 and on a tightening idler 85. A driven sprocket 87 is fixedly mountedon the end of the drum shaft 37 adjacent the driven sprocket 83 and hasa drive chain 89 connected therewith, such chain 89 being threaded on adrive sprocket 91 of a drive motor 93.

The metering apparatus M has been found particularly useful forspreading flaked bonito and rehydrated vegetables at a uniform rate ontobonito loins 94 traveling along a conveyor generally designated 95 FIG.1

Bonito fish are formed with four longitudinal loins which constituteprime quality and it is desirable to spread the flaked fish material andrehydrated vegetable onto the loins 94 as they are fed upwardly alongthe conveyor 95 to provide a uniform combination of large and smallpieces of bonito intermittently mixed with rehydrated vegetable which isfed off the upper end of the conveyor and uniformly into cans notshown). This combination of materials is frequently referred to asBonito in Dressing Sauce.

In the past, it has been common practice to employ several workers tomanually spread flaked bonito and vegetables on loins of bonito but thishas proven unsatisfactory because of the inconsistency in spreadingwhich results in some cans of Bonito in Dressing Sauce containingliterally no flakes or vegetables while other cans contain more than thedesired ratio.

In operation, the metering apparatus M may be mounted over the conveyor95 as shown in FIG. 1 with the metering drum 17 extending perpendicularto the conveyor belt to provide for uniform metering across the entirewidth of such belt. Obviously, if a narrower conveyor 95 were used themetering apparatus M could be mounted with the drum at an angle toextend diagonally across the width of the conveyor belt.

The hopper 11 is filled with a material 20 such as bonito flakes and/orvegetables and the drive motor 93 operated to commence rotation of themetering drum 17 and the agitator 63. It is noted that the agitators 63are rotated in opposite directions with the paddles 71 moving upwardlyover the drum 17 to therefore kick the flaked bonito upwardly away fromsuch drum to prevent compaction and maintain a substantially uniformforce pressing the flaked bonito downwardly into the cavities 19 wherebya substantially constant metering rate will be maintained irrespectiveof the degree of fullness or emptiness of the hopper 11. The meteringcavities moved upwardly into registration with the opening 13 (FIG. willbe filled with flaked bonito 20 dropping downwardly therinto and suchbonito will be moved clockwise across the surface of the stationaryback-up plate 21 and when the respective cavities clear the opening 13,back-up plate 21 and skirt 31, the honito in such cavities will fallfreely downwardly onto the chucks or loin bonito being carried upwardlyon the conveyor 95. Any bonito which does not fall clear of the cavities19 in this manner will be kicked loose by the cleaning bars 57 of thecleaning idler 53 and will fall out the cavities 19 and onto theconveyor 95. Thus, the mixture fed off the upper end of the conveyor 95will be chuck or loin bonito with a uniform layer of flaked bonitoand/or vegetables spread thereon for deposit in cans to provide auniform consistency from can to can.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that the metering apparatus ofpresent invention provides for convenient and accurate metering ofmaterial from the hopper and that the rate of dispensation may beadjusted by merely adjusting the speed of the metering drum. Further,the rate of dispensation is independent of the amount of materialremaining in the hopper.

Various modifications and changes may be made with regard to theforegoing detailed description without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

I claim:

1. Food particle metering apparatus for metering compactable foodparticles and comprising:

a hopper formed in its lower portion with an elongated horizontallyextending outlet in the bottom thereof;

an elongated cylindrical hollow metering shell disposed horizontally insaid outlet and including a circumferential wall having elongatedthrough radial slots defining metering cavities;

a semicylindrical backing plate telescoped in said shell and confrontingsaid outlet to block direct passage of said meat through said cavities;

mounting means mounting said shell for rotation in said outlet;

agitator means disposed in said hopper and having its axis disposedhorizontally and including a plurality of radially projecting spokesterminating in paddles arranged to rotate upwardly through a pathpassing immediately adjacent said outlet to sequentially engage saidparticles and carry such particles toward said outlet and then upwardlyand away therefrom to spill from said paddles and back over said outlet;and

drive means for rotating said shell and said agitator means to move saidcavities sequentially into engagement with said opening and to rotatesaid paddles to sequentially engage said particles to move them towardsaid outlet and to then drop them on said shell to maintain saidparticles substantially uniformly loose in said metering cavities tothereby provide uniform amounts of said meat in said cavities foruniform metering thereof.

2. Metering apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein:

said agitator means includes an axle shaft having said paddles spacedaxially therealong at equidistances.

3. Metering apparatus as set forth in claim 1 that includes:

a cleaning idler rotatably supported adjacent said metering shell andincluding a plurality of cleaning bars for interfitting said cavities toengage therewith to be rotated by said shell to clean said material fromsaid cavities; and

a scraping slat supported adjacent said cleaning idler for scraping saidmaterial from said bars.

4. Metering apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein:

said hopper is formed with semicylindrical bottom portions disposed onopposite sides of said drum;

said agitator means includes a pair of agitators disposed on oppositesides of said drum and including respective axle shafts disposed at thecenter of the respective cylinder of which said semi-cylinders form apart; and

said drive means drives said agitators in opposite directions to causesaid paddles to kick said material upwardly from opposite sides of saiddrum.

1. Food particle metering apparatus for metering compactable foodparticles and comprising: a hopper formed in its lower portion with anelongated horizontally extending outlet in the bottom thereof; anelongated cylindrical hollow metering shell disposed horizontally insaid outlet and including a circumferential wall having elongatedthrough radial slots defining metering caVities; a semicylindricalbacking plate telescoped in said shell and confronting said outlet toblock direct passage of said meat through said cavities; mounting meansmounting said shell for rotation in said outlet; agitator means disposedin said hopper and having its axis disposed horizontally and including aplurality of radially projecting spokes terminating in paddles arrangedto rotate upwardly through a path passing immediately adjacent saidoutlet to sequentially engage said particles and carry such particlestoward said outlet and then upwardly and away therefrom to spill fromsaid paddles and back over said outlet; and drive means for rotatingsaid shell and said agitator means to move said cavities sequentiallyinto engagement with said opening and to rotate said paddles tosequentially engage said particles to move them toward said outlet andto then drop them on said shell to maintain said particles substantiallyuniformly loose in said metering cavities to thereby provide uniformamounts of said meat in said cavities for uniform metering thereof. 2.Metering apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein: said agitator meansincludes an axle shaft having said paddles spaced axially therealong atequidistances.
 3. Metering apparatus as set forth in claim 1 thatincludes: a cleaning idler rotatably supported adjacent said meteringshell and including a plurality of cleaning bars for interfitting saidcavities to engage therewith to be rotated by said shell to clean saidmaterial from said cavities; and a scraping slat supported adjacent saidcleaning idler for scraping said material from said bars.
 4. Meteringapparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein: said hopper is formed withsemi-cylindrical bottom portions disposed on opposite sides of saiddrum; said agitator means includes a pair of agitators disposed onopposite sides of said drum and including respective axle shaftsdisposed at the center of the respective cylinder of which saidsemi-cylinders form a part; and said drive means drives said agitatorsin opposite directions to cause said paddles to kick said materialupwardly from opposite sides of said drum.